Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[nobloodyname]

...and because both share the same bitterness against DT...

 Don't you ever get tired of your crusade?

[KevShmev]

Lat week i heard Derek's interview on Dean Delray's podcast, Let There be Talk.

I think it's 2 or 3 years old, so, pre-SOA.

The interview was cool, they talked about a lot of things (this is a great podcast if you like metal/rock interviews), but when they talked about Derek's period in DT he seemed so...butt-hurt. Kept avoiding calling the guys by their names (the singer, the drummer, the guitarist etc), kept calling it "nerd-music"...it kinda soured the whole thing.

I like his playing, but he seems to really be up his own ass...

While I agree with the posts since about Sherinian, I found that interview and listened to the segment where he spoke about his time with Dream Theater, and came away with a different impression than you did.  He referred to JP and JLB by name both at least once, and the "nerd-music" thing was in the context of him talking about how prog fans love to go to concerts and listen for any mistake, which, let's face it, is very true.

I did find it interesting that he said that part of the reason he joined Dream Theater was because he knew it would raise his profile, so while he has clearly not gotten over getting fired by them, it is likely he would have quit the band once he had a chance at an equally-paying (or better) gig that was more his thing (since I think most would agree he is more of a hard rock guy than a prog guy).  In short, he is likely bitter that he was fired before he had a chance to quit.

[MinistroRaven]

SONS OF APOLLO ‘Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ coming in August!

SONS OF APOLLO--former Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force) — are pleased to announce the release of ‘Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ on the 30th August 2019.

‘Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ documents the band’s remarkable one-off performance at the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria alongside a full orchestra & choir, playing tracks from their debut album ‘Psychotic Symphony’ as well as a selection of tracks by legendary bands.

Mike Portnoy comments: “I’ve released several dozen live albums through the years with about a dozen different bands, but I have to say that this live release from Sons Of Apollo may indeed be the most special one of them all!! Everything was aligned that evening: an absolutely beautiful Roman amphitheatre and a perfectly gorgeous summer evening, one set of SOA material and one set of specially chosen cover songs, and to top it all off being joined by a symphony orchestra and choir…it was a magical evening for everybody in attendance and now we can share it with the rest of the world immortalized in this incredible live package.

This package will serve as a nice souvenir to capture the band’s first year on tour and should tide over all of our fans while we complete work on our sophomore studio release that will coming in Jan 2020"

The package will be available in many formats including Blu-ray, DVD, CD, Vinyl and Digital...more info coming soon!

The track-listing is as follows:

CD 1:
1. God Of The Sun
2. Signs Of The Time
3. Divine Addiction
4. That Metal Show Theme
5. Just Let Me Breathe
6. Billy Sheehan Bass Solo
7. Lost In Oblivion
8. Jeff Scott Soto Solo Spot (The Prophet’s Song / Save Me)
9. Alive
10. The Pink Panther Theme
11. Opus Maximus

CD 2: (Live w the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony)
1. Kashmir
2. Gates Of Babylon
3. Labyrinth
4. Dream On
5. Diary Of A Madman
6. Comfortably Numb
7. The Show Must Go On
8. Hell’s Kitchen
9. Derek Sherinian Keyboard Solo
10. Lines In The Sand

CD 3:
1. Bumblefoot Guitar Spot
2. And The Cradle Will Rock
3. Coming Home

[MinistroRaven]

at lease the cover art it's really good!

[cramx3]

I'll buy the blu-ray, looks pretty cool.  Sure a covers set isn't terribly interesting, but I'm sure it's an enjoyable watch/listen.

[Grappler]

I'm excited for the Blu-ray.  I didn't see them live, but I know that pretty much everyone raved about their performances.  This looks like it pretty much has their entire set from that tour, plus the additional cover songs. 

[Adami]

I'll buy it. Feels like they should have done this after a 2nd album, but what can you do?

As far as the covers go, I guess I might be in the minority here (from what I've seen on DTF) but I have little interest in covers that try to be note for note replications of the original. I like covers that put an interesting spin on things, a (at least somewhat) interesting interpretation.

Based on the bootlegs and all of Mike's previous covers, I'm guessing these are as close to note for note replications as possible, plus a bit of an orchestra adding. Not super exciting, but might be neat.

[MirrorMask]

If I remember correctly some previous discussions, those classic songs are basically a "bundle" that comes with the orchestra. You can't ask a selected orchestra to learn an obscure B-Side or a japanese bonus track, so what they're already acquainted with is those classic songs everyone know, they most likely didn't learn them on the specific purpouse to play them with Sons of Apollo.

[cramx3]

If I remember correctly some previous discussions, those classic songs are basically a "bundle" that comes with the orchestra. You can't ask a selected orchestra to learn an obscure B-Side or a japanese bonus track, so what they're already acquainted with is those classic songs everyone know, they most likely didn't learn them on the specific purpouse to play them with Sons of Apollo.

So the orchestra already knew how to play Lines in the Sand?

I'm not so sure about this bundle, but I'm sure they picked some safer songs to make it easier for them, maybe they had a say in that too.  But even songs like Diary of a Madman, I'm not entirely sure the orchestra has these songs up their sleeve.

[faizoff]

I pretty much buy all MP live bluray releases, even if I'm not that interested in the material because they are always so much fun to watch and so many times they actually change my mind on liking the source material.

Can't wait to get this.

[bosk1]

I will absolutely get this.  As I said in the MP thread, this is probably the MP project I am currently the most excited about.  (It isn't my favorite, but that's another set of criteria)  And the show I saw last tour was fantastic, so I'm loving the idea of getting to revisit it.

[axeman90210]

Will definitely check this one out, loved the regular live show and the list of covers is pretty fun.

If I remember correctly some previous discussions, those classic songs are basically a "bundle" that comes with the orchestra. You can't ask a selected orchestra to learn an obscure B-Side or a japanese bonus track, so what they're already acquainted with is those classic songs everyone know, they most likely didn't learn them on the specific purpouse to play them with Sons of Apollo.

So the orchestra already knew how to play Lines in the Sand?

I'm not so sure about this bundle, but I'm sure they picked some safer songs to make it easier for them, maybe they had a say in that too.  But even songs like Diary of a Madman, I'm not entirely sure the orchestra has these songs up their sleeve.

My guess is there's some kind of extra charge for each song the orchestra has to learn and then they maintain a catalogue of popular songs to pad out setlists. I feel like MP doesn't usually go for the big obvious covers when he's building a setlist, we even talked briefly at a Metal Allegiance show about how crazy it is that he's done two full Yellow Matter Custard setlists without doing Hey Jude or Blackbird or Yesterday (although the point at the time was more about the overall strength and depth of the Beatles material). If you gave MP free reign to pick a Zeppelin or Aerosmith or Floyd song to cover I doubt his first choice would be Kashmir or Dream On or Comfortably Numb. Could be that other guys in the band had some input into the setlist, but I'm guessing they shelled out for the orchestra to learn a couple songs in the second set and then took some tunes that they orchestra already knows.

[The Walrus]

" “I’ve released several dozen live albums through the years with about a dozen different bands, but I have to say that this live release from Sons Of Apollo may indeed be the most special one of them all!!"

More than the 20th Dream Theater anniversary that used an orchestra to play an entire set of their original material, including a 24 minute song and a 43 minute song, 13 years prior to this show? Well far be it from me to call Mike a liar, but... okay! Those classic rock songs must mean a LOT to the man!

[Fritzinger]

" “I’ve released several dozen live albums through the years with about a dozen different bands, but I have to say that this live release from Sons Of Apollo may indeed be the most special one of them all!!"

More than the 20th Dream Theater anniversary that used an orchestra to play an entire set of their original material, including a 24 minute song and a 43 minute song, 13 years prior to this show? Well far be it from me to call Mike a liar, but... okay! Those classic rock songs must mean a LOT to the man!

I had the same thought. Sick and tired of MPs overselling. Everything new he brings out the always the best he's ever done. This band has released 1 (one) mediocre hard rock album and what do they do next? They release an opulent live album with  an orchestra and a choir that consists of 60% covers and solo spots because there is not enough material. I don't get this at all.

[The Walrus]

That's a less polite but more honest version of what I was thinking! 

[axeman90210]

Eh, all musicians oversell when they have a new release coming out. Doesn't bother me.

[cramx3]

It is what it is, it's hard to expect an artist to say otherwise even if it's kind of ridiculous to hear people always say their latest is their greatest.

[Fritzinger]

There are classier ways to do this. Look at Haken. Those guys are the most humble musicians I know and they still let us know that they are proud of what they are about to release. Without saying stuff like "this is the ultimate epic juggernaut masterpiece".

[bosk1]

True.  But if the options are:  (A) humble musicians that put out crap music that makes me want to claw my eardrums out, or (B) obnoxious musicians that put out solid music that I actually like, then I'll take option B.

[Evermind]

Yeah, it's not a good idea to tell bosk to look at Haken. I'll actually skip both of these options and go for humble musicians that make awesome music. Good thing with how many artists there are today, there's always such an option.

[Stadler]

Without saying stuff like "this is the ultimate epic juggernaut masterpiece".

HAHAHA. 

[Fritzinger]

I'll actually skip both of these options and go for humble musicians that make awesome music. Good thing with how many artists there are today, there's always such an option.

Exactly.











Like Haken.

[Evermind]

I'll actually skip both of these options and go for humble musicians that make awesome music. Good thing with how many artists there are today, there's always such an option.

Exactly.











Like Haken.

Exactly like Haken, yep. I'm not disputing that, I love Haken. I travelled to Hamburg this February on my birthday just to see Haken and do a Meet and Greet with them (it went great, too).

But I also know that bosk doesn't like Haken at all, so that's not an option for him.

[Setlist Scotty]

As far as the covers go, I guess I might be in the minority here (from what I've seen on DTF) but I have little interest in covers that try to be note for note replications of the original. I like covers that put an interesting spin on things, a (at least somewhat) interesting interpretation.

I'm in full agreement. That's the one issue I have/had with DT's covers. I'd rather hear a DT-ized version of a song, rather than their replication of it. It's why I love VH's You Really Got Me, WASP's Easy Living, Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower and Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light - and the originals much less.
 
 

I will absolutely get this. <snip> this is probably the MP project I am currently the most excited about.

This just about sums it up for me - looking forward to picking up a copy! 

[Anguyen92]

As far as the covers go, I guess I might be in the minority here (from what I've seen on DTF) but I have little interest in covers that try to be note for note replications of the original. I like covers that put an interesting spin on things, a (at least somewhat) interesting interpretation.

I'm in full agreement. That's the one issue I have/had with DT's covers. I'd rather hear a DT-ized version of a song, rather than their replication of it. It's why I love VH's You Really Got Me, WASP's Easy Living, Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower and Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light - and the originals much less.

Yeah, as an example, take a look at when DT covered Xanadu and when Big Wreck covered Closer to the Heart when Rush did the big 40th Anniversary edition of A Farewell to Kings.  DT sounded more note-for-note on Xanadu while Big Wreck took Closer to the Heart and put their own twist to it that didn't sound like the original and it works for a band like Big Wreck.

[Samsara]

Looking forward to the live album. The tour was a lot of fun. 

[gzarruk]

" “I’ve released several dozen live albums through the years with about a dozen different bands, but I have to say that this live release from Sons Of Apollo may indeed be the most special one of them all!!"

More than the 20th Dream Theater anniversary that used an orchestra to play an entire set of their original material, including a 24 minute song and a 43 minute song, 13 years prior to this show? Well far be it from me to call Mike a liar, but... okay! Those classic rock songs must mean a LOT to the man!

I had the same thought. Sick and tired of MPs overselling. Everything new he brings out the always the best he's ever done. This band has released 1 (one) mediocre hard rock album and what do they do next? They release an opulent live album with  an orchestra and a choir that consists of 60% covers and solo spots because there is not enough material. I don't get this at all.

This man tells it as it is

Seriously, I still don't get why bands record and release covers as part of the "main" deal in their upcoming albums, live or studio. Releasing one or two covers might be ok as bonus material, but if half of your upcoming live album are covers because you just don't have enough songs of your own, I don't think it's the best time to make a live album in the first place.

I have zero interest in this live release, but I'm actually looking forward to their 2nd studio album, since I did like a few songs from the first one.

[Mladen]

I believe they were invited to perform in Plovdiv with an orchestra and a choir, which for any band is an offer that shouldn't be refused, so they did their best to come up with two sets, which seems to be the rule at this particular festival.

And how can you not use such a brilliant opportunity to record something like this? I know because I saw Opeth in the exact same setting and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was bummed that they decided not to record it. SoA ceased the day and went for it. I'm not a fan of the band, I didn't like the debut at all, but I'm with them on opting for recording and releasing this live show.

[bosk1]

I believe they were invited to perform in Plovdiv with an orchestra and a choir, which for any band is an offer that shouldn't be refused, so they did their best to come up with two sets, which seems to be the rule at this particular festival.

And how can you not use such a brilliant opportunity to record something like this? I know because I saw Opeth in the exact same setting and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was bummed that they decided not to record it. SoA ceased the day and went for it. I'm not a fan of the band, I didn't like the debut at all, but I'm with them on opting for recording and releasing this live show.

This man tells it as it is.  Those that don't like it don't have to buy it. 

[Madman Shepherd]

CD 3:
1. Bumblefoot Guitar Spot
2. And The Cradle Will Rock
3. Coming Home

The most underwhelming CD in the history of music.

I mean, couldn't throw a few tunes from disc 2 on this just to round it out?

Anyway, I'll probably still buy it. Gut instinct was to get the artbook but do I really need that from a band I'm only sort of into?

Would like to get DVDs and CDs but not pay "special edition" prices.

[cramx3]

Yup, and another example is Devin Townsend doing the same a year earlier with the orchestra.  They did one set of his full album and the DVD (I couldn't find it on bluray which is the only dissapointing part) is really awesome.  Looks and sounds cool.  Would be an awesome show to see for sure and while I think it's odd for a band with one album to put out a big production live album, who really cares?  If you aren't into it, you weren't going to buy it anyway.  I am pretty excited for it personally.

[The Walrus]

Yeah but I mean Devin could sing the Chinese takeout menu and I'd buy three copies

[bosk1]

And SoA could sing a set consisting of their first album and some covers, and I'd buy one copy.

[The Letter M]

I believe they were invited to perform in Plovdiv with an orchestra and a choir, which for any band is an offer that shouldn't be refused, so they did their best to come up with two sets, which seems to be the rule at this particular festival.

And how can you not use such a brilliant opportunity to record something like this? I know because I saw Opeth in the exact same setting and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was bummed that they decided not to record it. SoA ceased the day and went for it. I'm not a fan of the band, I didn't like the debut at all, but I'm with them on opting for recording and releasing this live show.

Quiescat diem? 

-Marc.

[ReaperKK]

I'll check this out, not sure if I'll buy it or not, I'll probably wait for some promotional stuff to appear on youtube.